The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
NO TIME T0j Be LOST.
WORK WHICH MAY BE DONE IN DECEM-
BER.
SiGn Boards OH the Road TO Prosper.
ity with Encouraging Words to
tho Weary Traveller,

Sign Boards OH the Road TO Prosper.
ity with Encouraging Words to
the Weary Traveller.
On most Southern farms December is sort
of supernumcrary month. Ihe work OF mar
vcsting the crops Is over, the fall grain mas
been SOwn. and there is strong lncllnatlon
To relax effort and anticipate the holidays.
This is espccially true of the negro lah0rers,
and particularly those who have been under
engagements rs tenants and croppers. ~
drcI, the civil division of the year does cor
respond with the zeal farming year. which
practically ends with the month OF NoVcm-
Der. Some careful and calculating FARMERS
have adopted the plan Of hiring wagc-hands
until the first of this month. excepting one or
two to take care Of the stock and perform
necessary chores about the mouse and barn.
yard. II Is q very prevalent custom IN the
North and West, where but little outdoor
work Is practicable after the first heavy
snow.s storm has fallen, and their severe win
ter has commenced In earnest. There Is no
real necessity for such relaxation In the
south. 1t Is better to consider December as
the month for commencing the new year S
work, even Unnecessary to engage labor for this
purpose. The heavy work of splitting rails,
building, repairing fences, etc., Will find no
better time for execution than the braclng
days between this and New Years.
HOG. KILLING.
We have always considered this the charac-
teristlc work of the month. Forehanded far
mers probably have already killed portion
Of their pork, but there should be none left to
feed through the holidays. Every pork hoS
pounds of pork, before Christmas, should be
sacrificed to the demands of the smok e-house.
The chances are altogether IN favor OF go3u
keeping. sound, sweet bacon, If the meat be
sailed down this month, rather than walt un-
I'll January. There will be more time for pro-
perly smoking and drying the joints before
the time of the appearance OF the ny. BE,
sides this, the pork that is made ut and kllled
in November and December will be decidedly
cheaper than II compelled TO feed heavily
through another month Of cold and disagree
able weather. An ear OF corn, or Q peck OF
meal, fed to a hog in October or November,
will make twice as much pork as the snne
Quantity fed in an open pen during the cold,
rainy December or January weather.
The art OF butcherlng hogs Is but little un.
by the average negro. IL woulu
shame the most expert "Scalder," or or "open-
er." or "cutter" to see how the work Is done In
an extensive pork-packing establishment,
,uch US Armours, in Chicago. About scald-
ing: BY whatever method the water be heat
I'd, it should not be cooler than l50 degrees
nor hotter than l7U degrees Fahrenheit, when
a carcass is dipped into IT. One hundred and
sixty is about the proper temperature 10 make
Ill the hair 'come" easily-Without risk ol
mined by the use OF an ordinary thermome-
ter, OF which every farmer should have two
or three. A little strong ashes added TO me
water will cause the scurf TO slip more easily,
and pint Of common tar will greatly fucill.
,ate the process.
FLOWING.
1t used to be urged on farmers to commence
blowing In the fall and earl rly winter. prepara.
tory to next springs planting. This Is one ol
those errors into which some Of us have fall
len in following too closely the methods and
teachings Of Northern farmers and writers,
without duo consideration OF the differences
In climate and conditions. In the cold States
OF the North the soil may be plowed to ad-
vantage in the fall, because OF the disintegrat,
ing action of the frost during the long, cold
winter. Besides, the earth is covered with u
muntel Of snow, which protects
thc surface from washing. The conditions do
not ordinarily obtain-in the Cotton states,
at least. Our winters are mild ana open
where they have snow, we have rain; while
their soils are hard frozen, ours are sott ana
liable to be wasted away, or run together,
before spring planting time arrive.
IL expedient to piow. Stubble lands, broom
sedge lands, and dry stiff soils, that are not
too steep, may be plowed to advantage. Soils
covered with growth OF vegetable matter
which it is desirable to incorporate should be
turned lightly, SO rs to merely hide such mat
Ter, in order to give time for decomposition
before planting time. 1t Is pretty generally
conceded that the plowing Of light soils
should be deferred to period just before
planting.
TERRACISG.
The experience of those who have faithfully
and intelIigently tried the terracng system Is
generally very decidedly favorable to this
method of preventing the soil from washing
as compared with The best system OF hillside
ditching and horizontal rows. Some VINO
have tried terracing have been discouraged by
the breaking and giving away during sever e
storms the first year. IN some such cases IL
will be probably found that the work was not
accurately and judiciously done. Moreover,
even when the terraces have been located
with the skill Of an expert engineer, the heaVy
rains Of the first succeeding spring and sum.
mer will often prove too much for them. THIS
has been the early experience Of even those
who have been very successful In nnally es'
tablishing permanent and enduring terraces.
The first point 10 be observed Is TO use only
the best instruments for locating the lines OF
level, which should, as they may, he absolute.
ly level, or judiciously inclined upward nt
salient angels, according to judgment which
or any instrument that requires to be moved
for every running rod, Will not answer the
purpose, unless used with extreme care. The
best tearracing levels are OF that class that de'
pend upon horizontal sights, perfectly adjust
ell spirit. levels, and Sliding staff. 1t will pay
to buy good leveling instrument costing
eight or ten dollars, rather than to use poor
one costing nothing. 1t Is good time TO dc
the preliminary work for terracing, such as
running and locating The levels. This can be
done in any kind of weather or condition OF
SOIL ii outdoor work can be done at all. Al
ter all, the best protection against land-wush'
ing is grass culture.
LIVESTOCK.
We trust that our reminders given In last
CuItiuutor of duty and sef.intereSt in the
matter of the comfort and protection Of farm
animals, have not been unheeded by those
who have been derelict in this respect.
LIVESTOCK BREEDING.
Now is the time to consider the expediency
of improving the farm stock, especially cattle,
sheep and hogs, by the purchase OF horouqh'
bred males of the best strains. We emp haSiZe
the Thoroughbred, because the results VIII De
made TO use only grades. Jersey bulls can be
had at very reasonable prices, since the first
excitement and Jttrore has subsided. Even
where farmer has already on his farm good
strains OF the best breeds Of cattle, swine. etc,
1t is well to introduce new blood from other
herds from time to time. In this connection.
the eXpediencc of raising horses and mules
may be considered. There Is absolutely no
good reason why farmers in the Cotton states
should not breed horses and mules for the
work Of the farm and the road, 10 the extent
AT least of ofsupplying their own wants; and IT
Is gratifying to note an increasing practical
interest In the subject.
CONTRACTS FOR LABOR.
The earlier contracts are made for next year
the better. Let those laborers and their
families VINO are nOI WanLeu, Ut Who WIZ uoI
stay another year. depart in peace as quickly
as practicable, SO that the new force may be
Installed by the first of january. Changes
should not be made for light cause, as labor. If
efficient at all, can be more and more salts
factory In proportion as the laDorer becomes
attached to the farm and surroundings. Lire
and let live should be the motto in dealing
with these ignorant people. With all his
faults, the negro suits the Southern farmer
better us II laborer than any other nationality.
II should be the policy Of our agriculture TO
elevate our labor, increase Its wages and i'm